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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

It's O-Phil-cial: Halladay now a Phillie

At one press conference, the Philadelphia Phillies were celebrating the dawn of a new era with the best pitcher in baseball. At another, the Blue Jays were lamenting the loss of their franchise player.

It was a sad day for Toronto Blue Jays fans - for the past five months, we had been expecting this day to come, but I don't think any of us could have prepared ourselves for the heartache that came along with letting go of Roy Halladay.

After watching today's press conference, there is reason to believe there is a lot of hope for this franchise moving forward. AA kept a very positive tone this afternoon and did a good job of providing the answers that everyone was looking for.

One phrase that Anthopoulos used quite frequently was "young, controllable players".

Obviously this is what the Blue Jays were seeking, and is the reason why they didn't go for a deal with the Los Angeles Angels involving players like Eric Aybar and Mike Napoli. While being good players, they could either potentially walk in just a few seasons or command quite a hefty contract.

Also, by trading for players with major league experience, you already have a relatively good idea of what their ceiling is and what to expect from them in the future. Whereas with highly-touted prospects, their potential is nearly unlimited.

It's refreshing to see a General Manager who understands the value in having a player under team control for six seasons, rather than a free agent who can command colossal amounts of money and just walk away at the end of their contract.

Expectations will be undoubtedly high on the players the Blue Jays received in return: Kyle Drabek, Brett Wallace, and Travis D'Arnaud. I don't think we should bank on any of these guys being the next Roy Halladay, however there is a great deal of potential and promise in each of them.

Even if just one of them turns out of be a success, the Roy Halladay trade would have been all worth it.

Strategically trading Doc is the right move, otherwise the Jays were at great risk of overpaying for diminishing production (see Vernon Wells). With a limited payroll, this is a risk that is to great to take, especially when the team already had one cripling contract on their hands.

It hurts like hell, but it's the right move. I just wish it was a move that they made last off-season.

Mat, that is very good news on the Brett Wallace front. Promising numbers from a guy who could be this team's next Adam Lind.

Peter D, Halladay DOES look very old in that picture. I guess 15 years in the Blue Jays organization has not helped him age very well. I imagine a few years in Philly will help those age lines dissipate.

Matty, it was tough to see him in a jersey - but he's happy. You can tell in the photos and by the press conference. He's excited to be there and excited to be on a winning team, and I'm happy for him.

Anon, I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Halladay throw a no-no in the next couple of seasons. He has come close quite a few times, and the caliber of the teams in the NL East is less than the AL East.

Mattt, I noticed that too - he does look teary eyed in a couple of those photos. Tears of joy or sadness? Maybe a little bit of both ...

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About the Blue Jay Hunter

The Blue Jay Hunter is a blog about the Toronto Blue Jays, which takes a look at the team under the microscope. Mixed in with just a hint of humour, and a shred of dignity. I also have an affinity for baseball moustaches.